The Ultimate Guide to Summer in the Berkshires

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Insider's Secret

Goose Pond

"This is one of the best and most under-appreciated lakes in the Berkshires. Hop on a kayak and venture to the other side of the lake from the boat ramp. Right when you think you've reached the end, you'll find a shallow, secret waterway that will open up to Upper Goose Pond. The experience of kayaking through here feels like magic." - Bartender Jane Burns

DANCE | Jacob's Pillow

MUSIC | MASS MoCA

"I love seeing live music and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) put on weekly concerts on their beautiful restored brick factory campus. Have a Berkshire Mountain Distillers gin and tonic as you watch a band play under the Berkshire stars."- Bartender Jane Burns

MUSIC | Tanglewood

"An evening on the lawn at Tanglewood is one of the most quintessential summer activities in the Berkshires. Bring a picnic with plenty of wine and cheese. Some patrons choose to cart in tables complete with candles and bouquets, but feel free to be as minimal or extravagant as you'd like."- Bartender Jane Burns

MORNING | Breakfast & Coffee

North County

Tunnel City Coffee

"This is a great communal spot serving delicious coffee and morning grub. The locals in Williamstown, as well as the students at Williams, are very friendly and always provide great conversation."FED Pro > Chef Nick Moulton of Mezze Bistro + Bar

South County

Six Depot Roastery Cafe

Located in a historic train station, this is a small batch coffee roastery, tea house, artisanal food shop and art gallery. Chef Flavio Lichtenthal roasts his beans on the premises. They also serve fresh salads, soups, panini, egg dishes and baked goods made with local ingredients.

"I love their coffee blends, the Seck-Sie in particular. I stop in for their Shakerato -- an espresso with a little simple syrup and shaken in a cocktail shaker so it gets an amazing creme."FED Pro > Chef Scott Cole of Monterey General Store

SHOPPING | Farmers Markets

North County

North Adams Farmers Market

"I like to stop in on my way into work on Saturday mornings. There are lots of small, lesser-known growers. They have music and there's always some sort of awesome product that surprises me each week."FED Pro > Chef Nick Moulton of Mezze Bistro + Bar

South County

Great Barrington Farmers Market

"This is a wonderful farmers market. I love Sean Stanton’s North Plain Farm sausage grilling station, the Berkshire Mountain Bakery for their ciabatta, and Indian Line Farm always has amazing produce. There are also lots of flowers to be had here too."FED Pro > Chef Scott Cole of Monterey General Store

SHOP FOR YOUR BBQ

Photograph courtesy of East Mountain Farm

NORTH COUNTY

East Mountain Farm

"Kim Wells raises heritage breed hogs that produce amazing fat, which defines great flavor. He attends the local markets and product is available for purchase at the farm."FED Pro > Chef Nick Moulton of Mezze Bistro + Bar

WHERE TO PICNIC

"One of the most quintessential summer activities is an evening picnic on the lawn at Tanglewood with plenty of wine and cheese. Some patrons choose to cart in tables complete with candles and bouquets, but you can be as extravagant or as minimal as you'd like."FED Pro > Bartender Jane Burns of Allium Restaurant + Bar

"I'm a sucker for a good picnic at either Tanglewood or at the Stockbridge Bowl. When it comes to Tanglewood, I try to go on an off night, to a program I may not have expected to enjoy. I'm always blown away by the beauty of it all. I like the Stockbridge Town Beach side of the Stockbridge Bowl. It gets me into a body of water, it's normally not that crowded, and it feels very classically Berkshires."FED Pro > Wine Pro Caitlin Harrison of Mise Wines

For a simple cocktail on the go, pick up a bottle of Aperol (liquor is sold only in the GB location) and sparkling wine. Mix together with a touch of soda water and you have the classic Italian Aperol Spritz. It’s super refreshing for a hot summer day and easy peasy to put together. Sip one alongside Great Barrington’s Green River.

— Bartender Jane Burns

SHOP FOR PICNIC PROVISIONS

North County

Berkshire Organics

"I really like their concise and unique wine selections. I'm always up for unique wine varietals with organic / biodynamic farming playing a part in their magic."FED Pro > Wine Pro Caitlin Harrison of Mise Wines

Mid + South County

Guido's Fresh Marketplace

"This is the best grocery shopping in the Berkshires. I may be a little biased because it is owned and operated by my two uncles (created when they were both mustachioed young men in 1979), but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention picking up a fresh juice or smoothie at the cafe in Pittsfield and wine and spirits in the Great Barrington location. The stores are gorgeous and offer the best quality, freshest fruits and veggies. They also have all your snacking needs covered times infinity, and the flower shop within the store has everything from succulents to peonies."FED Pro > Bartender Jane Burns of Allium Restaurant + Bar

"I head to Guido's in Pittsfield for all produce involved in the feast, but swinging by the meat counter to shoot the breeze with the boys is a must."FED Pro > Wine Pro Caitlin Harrison of Mise Wines

Spirited Wines

"For the best one stop shopping, I come here. They have the largest wine and spirits selection, a deep cheese and charcuterie selection, along with the best customer service."FED Pro > Wine Pro Caitlin Harrison of Mise Wines

"I love shopping here for wine and cocktail ingredients. They have a super knowledgeable staff that can direct you towards some excellent wine, so you can bring a great bottle along with you to Tanglewood or your lakeside picnic. They also carry everything I need for my at-home cocktail making, from delicious Luxardo maraschino cherries, to a selection of different bitters, to a great variety of spirits. If you love beer, they can satisfy your craft beer needs as well."FED Pro > Bartender Jane Burns Allium Restaurant + Bar

"I like to go directly to the their farm and get cheese and bread. And then I get to squeeze in a visit with the pigs, calves, chickens, and farmer Topher."FED Pro > Wine Pro Caitlin Harrison of Mise Wines

Rawson Brook Farm

They make one product which is Monterey goat cheese. Roam around the farm, meet the goats and grab cheese from the cooler to buy. Don't worry if no one is around because you leave your money in the cash box. It's all on the honor system.

"I put it at the top for chevres. It just amazing, creamy and seasoned. They have batch numbers on everything. It is so incredibly rich and doesn't have any of the chalky dryness that a lot of soft chevres seem to have."FED Pro > Chef Bjorn Somlo of Nudel

Park in first little parking area | Self-serve store open during daylight hours185 New Marlboro Road, Monterey, MA 01245T: 413.528.2138

BRUNCH & LUNCH

North County

HOT DOGS | Jack's Hot Dog Stand

"It is over 100 years old and is an old school spot serving hot dogs, hamburgers and fries at a 10-seat bar. It is delicious."FED Pro > Chef Nick Moulton of Mezze Bistro + Bar

BURGERS | Public Eat + Drink

PANINI & ICE CREAM | Six Depot

"They have a beautiful, clean menu, where you can eat a panini or a salad while enjoying a good cup of coffee. I'm partial to their quinoa salad with hazelnuts, goat cheese, and grapes. They also have an ice cream bar where you can get your scoop or milkshake fix after your nice, clean meal."FED Pro > Bartender Jane Burns Allium Restaurant + Bar

EGGS & OJ | The Southfield Store

"On Sundays, take a drive here to the outskirts of New Marlborough to have one of the best brunches in the Berkshires. I have the Eggs Benedict on top of spinach, roasted red peppers, and crispy polenta. You can probably imagine how good that is. The fresh-squeezed OJ doesn’t hurt, either."FED Pro > Bartender Jane Burns Allium Restaurant + Bar

SANDWICHES & SHOPPING | Monterey General Store

"This is the sweetest all around lunch stop for every morsel of deliciousness, food, coffee, and beauty. Scott Edward Cole, the owner, knows beauty in all forms. Lunch here is always a win."FED Pro > Wine Pro Caitlin Harrison of Mise Wines

"Scott Cole is an amazing cook. He is lovely and personable and his aesthetic and taste are awesome."FED Pro > Chef & Butcher Jeremy Stanton of the Meat Market

SANDWICHES & SNACKS | Bizalion's Fine Food

"This shop is owned by a couple, one is French and the other is Irish. They make French-style sandwiches and import things like crazy olive oils from France."FED Pro > Chef Stephen Browning of Prairie Whale

"I love getting their charcuterie and sandwiches on their baguettes. It's very French."FED Pro > Lisa Landry of Six Depot

ROADSIDE STAND | The Bistro Box

"This is another gem. A next-level roadside shack, they serve up some super tasty food. I love their falafel burger and they make killer truffle fries. Locals love this spot, so come early to claim a picnic table."FED Pro > Bartender Jane Burns Allium Restaurant + Bar

DISTILLERY + BREWERY TASTINGS

South County

Berkshire Mountain Distillers

"I super love our own Berkshire Mountain Distillers. Their gins are just delicious. If you are into a London Dry style of gin, try the Greylock. It was voted the number one craft gin in the country by the New York Times and is lovely in a cocktail. If you are more into a new age-style gin along the lines of a Hendrick's, try the Ethereal gin. It's made in small batches that use different varieties of herbs to make a gin that is botanical and delicious. Keep an eye out for different colored labels -- you'll find a different small batch with each change. BMD's beautiful distillery is located in Sheffield. Head there on a Saturday to try their spirits (they make vodka, whiskey, and rum as well) and take a tour."FED Pro > Bartender Jane Burns Allium Restaurant + Bar

South County

Big Elm

"This brewery is right around the corner from Berkshire Mountain Distillery. Stop in and get some beer. Not only growler fills, but they also sell cans. Their beers have a very clean flavor profile and they are very consistent in each style, meaning their lager tastes like a lager, their IPA tastes like an IPA. The 413 Farmhouse Ale is very drinkable. They also mix it up with limited edition beers like Double IPA or a session IPA."FED Pro > Sommelier Dan Thomas of Red Lion Inn and Eat on North

South County

One Mercantile

"This is an awesome shop. A lot of what they sell is locally-made and vintage-inspired. Just trust me and go in for a peek. I would live in this store if I could."FED Pro > Bartender Jane Burns Allium Restaurant + Bar

MID COUNTY

WINE & TAPAS | Mission

"For great, entertaining streetscape activity, topped with abundant Avinyo Petillant, my favorite semi-sparkling Spanish white from Cava country. The Picky Bastards are a great band that play on Thursday nights. Mondays are great too because they host jazz and it always winds up getting way funky... like way funky."FED Pro > Wine Pro Caitlin Harrison of Mise Wines

WINE | Methuselah Bar and Lounge

"Their cocktail program is diverse and the bartenders are sweet, gracious and eager to share their enthusiasm for their craft. The wines are all organic so I am pleased to drink everything they offer. Fuoristrada Rosato of Nero d'Avola is off the wall delicious and so ridiculously affordable. I love that the music they are bumping can vary on any given night and the bartenders are truly getting down while shaking things up."FED Pro > Wine Pro Caitlin Harrison of Mise Wines

"After a good bike ride on the Ashuwillticook rail trail, fill up here upon your arrival back in Pittsfield with a tasty cocktail and some tacos. Say hi to my brother Johnny, who is a bartender too, and will be slinging the drinks behind the bar like nobody's business."FED Pro > Bartender Jane Burns Allium Restaurant + Bar

South County

The Prairie Whale

"The atmosphere inside is always bustling and jovial and in the summer you can hang in the front yard and play a little Cornhole or Ping Pong. And during their weekend brunches they make one heck of a Bloody Mary."FED Pro > Bartender Jane Burns Allium Restaurant + Bar

"This is where I go when I want ridiculously tasty fried chicken and to drink natural wine... and feel cool while doing it."FED Pro > Wine Pro Caitlin Harrison of Mise Wines

DINNER

North County

Mezze Bistro + Bar

"This is the sister restaurant to Allium and my alma mater. It is one of my favorite places to eat in the county. The food prepared by chef Nick Moulton is not only delicious, but so, so beautiful. Mezze also rocks an incredible cocktail program, along with a great wine list. Head here before a night at the Williamstown Theater Festival or after a day at the Clark Art Museum."FED Pro > Bartender Jane Burns Allium Restaurant + Bar

"The most memorable meals of my life have been eaten here. It is beyond dreamy. The food, aside from being hyper-locally-sourced, is always impeccably constructed, full of flavor, and so damn fresh. The wine program is off the charts diverse in its small producer and unique varietal categories, and is beyond fun to dive into with adventurous wine friends."FED Pro > Wine Pro Caitlin Harrison of Mise Wines

Mid County

District

"This is where I go when I want to watch a well oiled machine work well: friendly and genuine staff, a fresh cocktail, a perfectly time meal, and consistent dishes. The wine program is growing and changing in a really exciting way, which will always get me through the door."FED Pro > Wine Pro Caitlin Harrison of Mise Wines

South County

Nudel

"There is so much good food in the Berkshires. I love coming here for delicious, creative, and inspiring food. The menu changes daily and Bjorn is a great host."FED Pro > Chef Nick Moulton of Mezze Bistro + Bar

"This is one of the best eats in the Berkshires. Chef Bjorn Somlo makes incredibly delicious and fun food. Although they don’t serve liquor, they will happily pour some very tasty beer and wines."FED Pro > Bartender Jane Burns Allium Restaurant + Bar

"Nudel will light up your life with extraordinary food made from simple ingredients. Bjorn Somlo just knows how to handle each ingredient with such care, that his most simple dishes are often the most experiential. Chef's counter dining at Nudel really makes for a special night."FED Pro > Wine Pro Caitlin Harrison of Mise Wines

Allium Restaurant + Bar

"They capture the spirit of the way I like to dine: many small plates to share. The staff here is highly attuned to well paced, coursed out, split plate fests. The tablescape of food is always gorgeous."FED Pro > Wine Pro Caitlin Harrison of Mise Wines

CafeADAM

"This is an excellent restaurant with fresh, delicious, thoughtful food and a solid bar to match. I particularly enjoy sitting at the bar so I can peek into their semi-open kitchen and watch Chef Adam Zieminski and his team at work."FED Pro > Bartender Jane Burns Allium Restaurant + Bar

LATE NIGHT

South County

FUNKY & FUN | Dream Away Lodge

"After catching a dance performance at the gorgeous Jacob's Pillow in Becket, dip over to the Dream Away Lodge for a nightcap at this kitschy little house. You can hang inside and enjoy some live music or take a seat outside by the ever-burning bonfire."FED Pro > Bartender Jane Burns Allium Restaurant + Bar

BURGERS & BEER | Bagel & Brew

"This is a new-ish spot in Lenox serving bagels by day and burgers by night. Grab a beer inside and head out to the lovely beer garden -- a picnic table there is a perfect spot to enjoy a warm summer night."FED Pro > Bartender Jane Burns Allium Restaurant + Bar

TAPAS & WINE | Brava

"This is a small wine and tapas bar. It's a tiny force. They serve very tasty food later than anywhere else in the Berkshires I can think of [the kitchen is open until midnight]. They have an extensive, thoughtful wine list."FED Pro > Bartender Jane Burns Allium Restaurant + Bar

"They have the craziest, most well-edited draft beer lineup in the Berkshires. Eight taps that will blow your mind with their uniqueness or 'rare and fine' feel."FED Pro > Wine Pro Caitlin Harrison of Mise Wines